What are the risks associated with radiation exposure to a pregnant women?

Question

Hi doctor,

My wife had a chest x-ray yesterday, and we recently found out that she is 4 weeks pregnant. During a consultation with an gynecologist in our area, we were informed that radiation from the X-ray could harmed the developing baby, particularly the eyes, ears, and brain. The doctor also mentioned that the baby may be at an increased risk for developing certain types of blood cancer, such as leukemia. Given this information, the doctor suggested that we consider for an abortion. We are feeling very anxious and distressed about the situation and are seeking guidance and advice as soon as possible.

Please help.

Thank you

Answer 1

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I would like to inquire about the method used to confirm pregnancy. If serum beta human chorionic gonadotropin has not been conducted, it is recommended to perform the test to confirm pregnancy and its progression accurately. It is advised to repeat the test after 48 hours to check if there is an increase of more than 60% in the beta hCG level. If there is an increase, then the pregnancy is progressing well. It is important to note that nature often terminates a pregnancy with a defective fetus, resulting in a miscarriage. Induced abortion is not a solution to these cases. It may have side effects that can affect the developing fetus. In most cases, the fetus remains unaffected. I would suggest taking 5 mg of Folic acid daily for your wife and undergoing a nuchal translucency scan at 13 weeks. If the results are not normal, further tests such as serum marker and double marker tests can be performed. An anomaly scan at 20 weeks is also recommended, as this is the usual practice in every pregnancy.

Thank you.

What are the risks associated with radiation exposure to a pregnant women?

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